Recipe Sifter

Non-dairy fruit shake made with homemade almond milk, frozen fruit, and maple syrup. Includes from-scratch almond milk instructions for a fully plant-based smoothie.

Deep plum pie with halved plums baked under overlapping pastry rounds, sweetened with brown and white sugar, warmed with cloves or cardamom and thickened with quick tapioca.

Texas-style smoked brisket with a spicy chili rub and a beer-based mop sauce. Smoked low and slow over wood chips for tender, smoky bark and pink smoke ring.

Bananas in Phyllo Nests serves warm banana slices in an orange-Grand Marnier syrup spooned into crispy phyllo shells. An elegant 20-minute dessert for entertaining that looks far harder than it is.

New Year's Eve polenta squares crisp tube polenta under the broiler, then top each bite with a tangy sun-dried tomato, caper, and parsley pesto. A make-ahead cocktail-party appetizer that feeds a crowd.

Nuoc cham with shredded carrots and daikon: the Vietnamese fish sauce-lime-chili dipping sauce with pickled carrot and daikon slaw, served with fresh herbs and lettuce wraps.

Chunky apple butter made overnight in a crockpot with Granny Smith apples, applesauce, brown sugar, and warm spices. Set it before bed and wake up to fall in a jar.

Vegan seitan roast simmered with sliced mushrooms and onions in a savory basil and sage gravy. A hearty plant-based main course that's ready in under an hour.

No-bake frozen fruitcake salad with sour cream, whipped topping, candied cherries, pineapple, bananas, and pecans. A retro holiday dessert that freezes into a creamy, fruity slice.

Bengali-style oven-fried potatoes baked directly on greased oven racks with turmeric, cumin, and cayenne. Crisp, golden, and Indian-spiced without a drop of frying oil.

Homemade oatmeal wheat germ dog biscuits with whole wheat flour, molasses, and evaporated milk. Baked low and slow until crunchy. No preservatives, just real ingredients.

Vegan key lime torte with a silken tofu filling, carob cake base, kiwi slices, and a mint-brown rice syrup glaze. Dairy-free, egg-free, and set with agar-agar.

Cajun oyster pate with pimento-stuffed olives, bacon, hot sauce, and sweet relish blended into a smoky, briny spread. A bold appetizer served chilled on crackers.

Mini pumpkins stuffed with herbed rye bread cubes, carrots, celery, and onion, baked until tender. A vegetarian fall main dish that doubles as a stunning table centerpiece.

Open-faced sub sandwiches on toasted English muffins with salami, lettuce, tomato, onion rings, basil, and melted American cheese. Broiled 5 minutes for a quick hot lunch.

Hawaiian fruit salad with apples, bananas, fruit cocktail, miniature marshmallows, and Cool Whip. A creamy, no-cook fruit salad that kids love, ready after a good chill in the fridge.